So do you think Kalen will finally start treating Alyssa better or is this a trick?
I sighed as I leaned against the back of the tub. The hot water did a lot for the aches and pains. Once the water grew cold, I got out. My ankle was still an ugly purple, black color, but I could walk on it without a limp now.I grabbed a change of clothes, smelling them to make sure they didn’t smell like the blonde idiot, before I put them on. In fact, they didn’t smell like anyone. These were new.I laid in the bed, feeling strange being in Kalen’s room, surrounded by his scent. What was he doing? Why the sudden kindness and how long was it going to last? I rolled over to my side and sighed. Only time will tell, I suppose. Exhaustion washed over me, and I fell asleep.I shot up, screaming out the name of my son. My chest rose and fell with my heavy breathing as the panic of seeing Carl hurting my son was still squeezing my heart. I blinked several times to recognize where I was. A nightmare… It was just another nightmare. Pulling the blankets aside, I noticed the other side wasn’t s
Nervous and hopeful energy flowed through me as we arrived at the lake-side resort that would serve as a neutral ground for the peace talks. I recognized several alphas, and some even recognized me. I tried not to duck my head, embarrassed, when they saw I was with Kalen. As much as I hated that this would make Carl’s claims against me seem more true, I cared more for peace than my reputation.Almost immediately after we went inside, I saw Carl and Lena. Rage filled me. My body shook. They saw me too. Lena laughed as they walked over to us. “Well, so the rogue didn’t kill you. Lucky you, I guess.”“Yes, lucky me, but not for you,” I said, taking a step towards them. It filled me with immense joy that Lena took a step back to stand behind Carl.Carl’s jaw clenched, and he glared at me. “Careful,” he sneered, his voice low. “You might want to watch that mouth of yours. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”I felt a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth. “Oh, I know exactly who I’m deali
After the initial meeting with the lycan king, we went to check our rooms to ensure our luggage was there and then dressed for dinner. Tonight there would be a banquet, then tomorrow the talks would begin. I wanted to ask Kalen about the lycan king and the fact the lycan king seemed almost friendly to him. Yet, even a blind man could see the tension in him and I didn’t want to push him. Now wasn’t the time for questions.Instead, we dressed for dinner and went down to the banquet. Once more, our table was in some corner, but this time we had a tablecloth with some water bottles. Not long before the banquet began, the alphas began showing their true faces.I saw at least three alphas that had two or three lunas with them. The alpha of the Duskmire pack had two lunas, one feeding him and the other offering him drinks. I didn’t see him pick up his fork once.They all dressed in obviously expensive clothing. Some lunas had enough jewelry to fund an entire pack for a year, probably. Yet, de
The cold seemed to seep into my soul, but the surprise of Kalen tossing that woman into the lake and scaring off Lena filled me with a strange warmth. I hugged myself, shivering, and walked back to our room, when I gasped in surprise when Kalen picked me up in his arms. “I can walk.”“It’s cold out here and you’re soaked,” he said, not letting me go.“Fine,” I replied, instead of arguing because his body heat felt good against my chilled body and I also was feeling a little weak and dizzy.Kalen didn’t set me down until we were in the bathroom of our room. Once he set me down, he hurried to give me a change of clothes. “You need to get out of those wet clothes. Can you do it or do you…” he paused, and the air between us became awkward and charged.“I can do it,” I said in a rush, taking the clothes. He was being a lot kinder, but I didn’t want to complicate things more than they already were. Once Kalen closed the door, I peeled the damp clothes from my skin and dressed in the warm, dr
Kalen kept his expression stoic as Lena claimed he was hurting her. When the lycan king looked at him, Kalen told him, keeping his tone as emotionless as his expression, “She did it herself to atone for mistreating a member of my group.”“He’s lying,” Lena demandedAt the same time, Carl snapped, “You’re lying! My king, you can’t trust rogues! They’re all liars and--”The king held up his hand, but didn’t take his eyes off of Kalen, who met his gaze boldly. “We all saw her pour the water on herself with no force by the rogue or his party.”“But….” Carl said as Lena’s face twisted in anger, realizing that her attempt to garner sympathy had failed.She shot Kalen a venomous look before addressing the king again. “No, you’re wrong! That rogue forced me to do it. He manipulated me,” she insisted, her voice trembling with false indignation. “I was afraid for my safety. He--”The king’s expression shifted slightly, something dark and calculating flickering in his eyes as he observed her. “Al
***Trigger Warning - This story deals with child loss ***My little one has left. I was so lucky to be his mother, yet so tragically only for a month.I hummed a soft lullaby as I rocked back and forth in the rocking chair while I held the necklace in my hands. This would be the closest I’d ever get to holding my baby ever again. Oh, goddess, why did you give him to me only to take him away so soon?My fingers brushed over the glass that sealed the ashes of my son, as I stared at the one that contained a small snip of his dark blonde hair. Hair just like his father, Kalen. This damned war! It had taken both of them from me.Six months ago, out of nowhere, rogues began attacking several packs, including ours. They were slipping past defenses and taking out key strategic spots with astonishing precision. Everywhere they went, towns burned and fields trampled, turning the whole place into a living hell.“Alyssa, take care of yourself. I will be back soon.” My father kissed me and left to
They forced me into a chair before the elders, with all the prominent figures of the pack behind us. Lena crossed her arms under her chest, smirking at me with menacing glee. “What is the meaning of this? How could you handcuff Alyssa?” an elder said, looking over at me with concern. I tried to speak, to tell them what Carl was planning, but still I couldn’t utter a sound. He motioned to the guards. “Free her now.”“Wait, you’re about to know the truth,” Carl looked serious, and the guard ignored the elder’s signal. “We are at war with the rogues. Yesterday, I received the information from the lycan king. He has found proof of a traitor in our pack. Through my own investigation, I found Alyssa has betrayed us,” Carl demanded. Again, I tried to deny it, but no sound came out of me.Was that his plan? To make me his traitor and replace me with his mistress? I struggled furiously to get out of the handcuffs.Carl looked at me dead in the eye. “Are you our traitor, Alyssa?”I stared at hi
I turned so I could see the man. Joy and horror filled me in equal measure. It was him. It was Kalen. He was really alive and here now. Yet I had to admit he wasn’t quite how I remembered. His once smiling, warm face was now hardened and cold. His blue eyes were dark and stormy, promising violence and death.“Well, well, what a surprise. Kalen, you have a knack for survival.” Carl let out a derisive laugh. “How dare you, a lowly rogue, come to my territory?” his voice was loud, but I felt the tip of the knife quiver against my neck.“You know why I’m here,” Kalen demanded. His voice rang out through the room and everyone fell silent. Most of the pack pressed themselves to the walls of the room, barely breathing as if they didn’t dare make a noise unless he’d strike them down.“I hope not,” Carl said with a laugh that made Kalen snarl at him.A hint of uncertainty filled Carl’s eyes at the sound of it. He held up his hand, lifting his chin.“That’s far enough. This doesn’t need to get p